Pirates have seized two commercial vessels off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia in separate incidents this week, raising fresh concerns over a resurgence of piracy in waters that had seen a dramatic decline in attacks over the past decade.
The latest incident occurred on Thursday, August 20, in the Gulf of Aden, where six armed men reportedly boarded the Seamull, also known as Sibu 1, and forced the tanker to alter course toward Somalia.
According to maritime security agencies cited by AFP, the vessel issued a distress call after being approached about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The tanker is among vessels subject to US sanctions.
The seizure came days after another commercial vessel, the Lutuf, was hijacked near the Somali coast on Monday, August 17.
The Cameroon-flagged cargo ship was reportedly attacked by eight gunmen who launched their assault from the MV Sward, a vessel itself seized by pirates in April, according to Puntland security officials.
The Lutuf was sailing toward Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, when it was captured. The pirates subsequently took the ship toward the Somali coast near Garmaal in Puntland’s Dangoroyo district.
The crew reportedly includes six Indian nationals, one Georgian, one Turkish national and two Serbian security guards, according to reports by the Associated Press. The latest incidents bring renewed attention to the security risks facing commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia.
Piracy off Somalia was at its height in the late 2000s and peaked in 2011, when armed groups carried out numerous attacks and kidnappings for ransom. International naval patrols, improved ship-security measures and coordinated efforts by the shipping industry subsequently brought the number of successful hijackings down sharply.
However, maritime security officials say attacks have begun to increase again since April, with several vessels reportedly being held by pirates.
The latest hijackings have raised concerns among shipping operators and governments, particularly because of the involvement of multiple nationalities among the crews. Authorities are expected to closely monitor the situation as efforts continue to establish the status of the seized vessels and their crews.
The condition of the Lutuf, its crew and cargo was not immediately clear. Further details about the Seamull and the whereabouts of its crew were also awaited as maritime authorities assessed the incidents.
The renewed attacks could add to the security challenges already facing one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors, where vessels transit between the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
